Ever wonder how polarized sunglasses work? Waves!
Polarized sunglasses work using the speed of light. Light travels in the air just like waves. The waves vibrate and move in all different directions. They can be both transverse and longitudinal waves. Polarization is the phenomenon in which waves of light or other radiation are restricted in direction of vibration. This means that for example, when light hits off the surface of water, waves will vibrate horizontally.
Reflective waves can be very annoying to our eyes. That's why when it's sunny out, we wear sun glasses to protect our eyes from the waves coming from the sun. The waves from the sun causes an annoying glare, a very harsh, bright, dazzling light. The majority of reflective surfaces that cause us glare are horizontal. So polarized sunglasses have polarizing filters set in a vertical direction, so the glare coming off of the horizontal surfaces aren't bothering your eyes. Therefore, since the filters are placed vertically, only waves of light vibrating vertically. That's how polarized sunglasses work.
Electromagnetic Waves
An electromagnetic wave can be created by accelerating charges; moving charges back and forth will produce oscillating electric and magnetic fields, and these travel at the speed of light. We split up the electromagnetic spectrum based on frequency. The energy carried by an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the frequency of the wave. The wavelength and frequency of the wave are connected by the speed of light. In electromagnetic waves, no medium is required for the wave to travel through. It also has momentum, and can apply pressure.
Polarized sunglasses work using the speed of light. Light travels in the air just like waves. The waves vibrate and move in all different directions. They can be both transverse and longitudinal waves. Polarization is the phenomenon in which waves of light or other radiation are restricted in direction of vibration. This means that for example, when light hits off the surface of water, waves will vibrate horizontally.
Reflective waves can be very annoying to our eyes. That's why when it's sunny out, we wear sun glasses to protect our eyes from the waves coming from the sun. The waves from the sun causes an annoying glare, a very harsh, bright, dazzling light. The majority of reflective surfaces that cause us glare are horizontal. So polarized sunglasses have polarizing filters set in a vertical direction, so the glare coming off of the horizontal surfaces aren't bothering your eyes. Therefore, since the filters are placed vertically, only waves of light vibrating vertically. That's how polarized sunglasses work.
Electromagnetic Waves
An electromagnetic wave can be created by accelerating charges; moving charges back and forth will produce oscillating electric and magnetic fields, and these travel at the speed of light. We split up the electromagnetic spectrum based on frequency. The energy carried by an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the frequency of the wave. The wavelength and frequency of the wave are connected by the speed of light. In electromagnetic waves, no medium is required for the wave to travel through. It also has momentum, and can apply pressure.